Bill to beef up Idaho's school-threats law passes House, 52-12, after much debate

Legislation to beef up Idaho’s laws on violent threats against schools and add possible felony charges has passed the House on a 54-12 vote after much debate; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said the bill originated with the state’s office of school safety and security and has been “thoroughly vetted.” She said, “This statute has not been updated since 2006.”
But several House members said they worried that the bill might make a kindergartner with a one-inch pocketknife or a youngster engaging in a playground dispute into a felon. Backers of the bill said it absolutely wouldn’t do that.
“Threats to children at schools are not protected speech,” said Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise, a retired...